AU NEWS FEED
Year 1 (2016- 2017) Issue 4
Visual warm-up schedule by national APE teacher of the year Gregory
Lukshaitis.
Grants / Funding
The SPARK Grant-Finder Tool helps you locate funding for your Health and Physical Education Program. Once on
the site, sort by location and progam type to receive a customized list of grant opportunities.
Click here.
http://www.sparkpe.org/grants/grantfunding-resources/
Training for Spring Special Olympics
Students on the AU-spectrum with an identified intellectual disability are eligible for Special Olympics, but how to
choose which sports work best? Spring games offer Track and Field, Softball skills and softball team.
MATP: Motor Activities Training Program is for students with significant disabilities and may be a great choice for
those who have difficulty understanding the rules and regulations of competition.
Connect with your EC staff and work together to create purposeful training and meaningful PE lessons.
All info. is at www.sonc.net/mecklenburg
The CMS APE department can help set up practices and take scores.
Consider the following:

Whole body movement.

Closed skill, meaning there is a clear beginning and ending, and it can be repeated the same way.

Limited distractions.

Limited open-ended situations where a player has to make a decision based on environmental cues.
Training:
Be as specific as you can so all students can learn the rules that govern the competition.
Be an example, perform the skills with them and set expectations.
Go outside if you can. The competition will be outside.
TRACK AND FIELD
Running: Use the commands: “On your marks, set, (then gun or whistle is sounded to begin the race).”
Use lanes, draw them on the sidewalk or playground, but teach them to stay in their lane.
Use start line. Teach starting position behind the line.
Use finish line. Teach running passed the finish line, not slowing down before the line.
If you have access to a track use it, or go on a field trip to a track.
Teach students to find the staggered start for the 200m or longer distances on the track.
Teach students to run the turn of the 200 m or longer distances to the left (counter clockwise).
Relays: Can be unified. Two general education students and two EC students.
See tips for training for the running races.
Relay is run counter clockwise on an oval track. Not the way relays are done in the gym (standing in line).
Keep the order of the runners consistent.
Select order of runners based on ability and level of understanding. 2 nd and 4th runner run the straight
stretches which are less confusing with regards to staying in their lanes; 1st runner can tell the 2nd runner
what to do; 4th runner can be the fastest runner with the finish line in sight.
Practice starts. Only the first runner starts, not everyone.
Practice handing of the baton in a smaller space such as the gym, but DO transfer it to the track.
Throwing: Practice 3 non-consecutive turns. This means learning to take turns.
Have a foot-fault line, athlete must stay behind the line.
Any type of throw is accepted, however it is for distance.
Shot put: this is a very technical event and only offered for Middle and High School at CCDS.
Jumping: Practice 3 non-consecutive turns. This means learning to take turns.
For the running long jump an actual jumping pit will be used. Please practice accordingly.
For the standing long jump a line is used and the jump has to be a two-foot take off.
SOFTBALL SKILLS
Running the bases: Use the commands: “On your mark, set, whistle blow.”
Use a softball diamond with bases between 18-19 m. apart.
Make sure runner touches all the bases.
Practice non-consecutive attempts. This means learning to take turns.
Throwing for distance: Use a line/rope/measuring tape to indicate direction of the throw.
Discuss that the best throw is as close to the line and as far down the line as possible.
Use regulations softballs.
Practice two consecutive attempts, before the next person goes.
Batting of a T: Use regulation softball and bat.
Teach proper technique.
Teach safety protocol. When not at bat step back into a safe zone.
Three consecutive attempts.
Fielding a ball: Teach to move towards the ball.
Teach to use hands to stop the ball, not feet.
Teach to bend down and stay standing, not diving for the ball.
Teach to go back behind the cones before the next ball gets rolled out to be fielded.
Need Literacy Credits?
Check out the online self-paced and mini modules available through the NCDPI Division of Educator
Effectiveness.
Click here.
Have a great spring season.
The CMS APE department: Amy, Jamey, Ashlyn, Jolanda
March 2017